Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Sen stuns third seed Jonatan Christie to secure spot in last 16
Lakshya Sen pulled off an incredible victory over third-seed Jonatan Christie from Indonesia in a thrilling group stage match at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Wednesday, July 31. Sen’s remarkable performance saw him come back from 8-2 behind in the first game to clinch it 21-18, followed by a dominant 21-12 win in the second game to secure his place in the last 16.
The match began with two long rallies, both of which ended unfavorably for Sen. Christie went on to take an early 5-0 lead. Maintaining his advantage, the Indonesian reached 7-2, with Sen struggling to adjust to the conditions.
However, the Indian shuttler demonstrated his ability to adapt and turn things around. An amazing long rally, showcasing his solid defense and converting it into a successful attack, finished with a smash and follow-up tap, brought the score to 4-8.
Sen continued to claw his way back, eventually leveling the score and then taking the lead. Sen went on to take a narrow 11-10 lead at the mid-game interval with a thunderous cross-court smash.
After the mid-game break, Christie began to make unforced errors; Sen capitalized on this, gaining a 3-point lead at 14-11. A grueling rally at 14-12, which had both players nearly walking by the end, saw Christie win the point, making it 13-14. Another unforced error by Sen saw the Indonesian level terms and caused a see-saw battle with both players fighting for the lead.
After going 16-18, Sen took five consecutive points to win the game. An insane shot from behind his back gave Sen the game point, and then the Indian clinched the game at 21-18.
The second set started with both players battling neck and neck until 3-3, before Sen took control with four consecutive points, making it 7-3. Sen led at the mid-game interval with an 11-6 advantage.
The second half also saw several long rallies, each finishing with powerful smashes. While both players continued to take points alternately, Sen maintained and slightly extended his lead to 15-9. He then surged ahead to 17-9 and finally wrapped up the game at 21-12.
This significant win not only saw Sen top his group but also saw him qualify for the knockout stages.
Sindhu tops group with easy wins at the Paris Olympics 2024
Earlier on Wednesday, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu comfortably beat Estonia’s Kristina Kuuba 21-5, 21-10 to book her place in the last 16. With it, she qualified for the women's singles pre-quarterfinals.
In her first group-stage match, the Indian got the better of Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq from the Maldives with a straight-game victory. The final scoreline of the match was 21-9, 21-6.